Rodeo Bullfighters Grab Life by the Horns

Aug. 18, 2014 - At the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo, in Cheyenne, Wyoming, the bullfighters of the Championship Bull Riding World Finals risk life and limb to keep the bull riders from harm. Different from matador or torero bullfighters, these professionals protect the bull riders. Once a rider is thrown off, the bullfighters' job is to rush in to grab the attention of the bull, allowing the rider to escape. Injuries are a constant threat, but the safety of the bull riders is their top priority.

Rodeo Bullfighters Grab Life by the Horns

Aug. 18, 2014 - At the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo, in Cheyenne, Wyoming, the bullfighters of the Championship Bull Riding World Finals risk life and limb to keep the bull riders from harm. Different from matador or torero bullfighters, these professionals protect the bull riders. Once a rider is thrown off, the bullfighters' job is to rush in to grab the attention of the bull, allowing the rider to escape. Injuries are a constant threat, but the safety of the bull riders is their top priority.

[00:13] - I love bulls, I love bull riding competition, there's nothing greater to me than watching these animals perform and what might even be greater than that is when somebody hangs on to one of them. It's just, it's amazing to me and I've loved it and been fascinated with it ever since I was probably two or three years old.

Brandon Loden

Bullfighter

[00:34] - Bullfighter, we're uh, we're the guys that after the bull rider, we get the bull's attention and try to keep the cowboys safe. And keep everyone out of harm's way.

Craig Check

Bullfighter

[00:48] - The way I do it is I just, I'm not watching the bull, how it bucks, I'm watching the bull rider all the time. If I see that bull rider getting in trouble, it's all just timing and just watching that cowboy so if he's thrown underneath there I can try to get into between the bull and the rider and take the hit for him.

[01:13] - They're losing their color, I might spray-paint them here.

Brandon Loden

Bullfighter

[01:17] - They always say in in bull riding and rodeo "It's not if you get hurt, it's when." I actually need shoulder surgery right now, running around with a separated AC joint, all the ligaments torn in my shoulder. I broke my arm, completely blew out my knee, broke my leg in three spots, broke both ankles.

[01:40] - There's a lot of danger in it, you have to be able to channel that fear into a good way and every time I've been injured by the time I've got to come back fighting bulls I've wanted it more than I did before I left.

Cody Teel

Bull Rider

[02:00] - I tell them thank you every time, wether I land on my feet and get away clean and fine I tell them thank you for being there and doing what they do. They look at it like their job, and they're supposed to do it, but they do stuff that… you can't pay someone enough in my opinion to do what they do.

Craig Check

Bullfighter

[02:28] - I've been fighting bulls for 18 years, and I want to go out on top, and I got a family back home, and I told my wife and kids at least two more years and that'd probably be about it.

Rodeo Bullfighters Grab Life by the Horns

Aug. 18, 2014 - At the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo, in Cheyenne, Wyoming, the bullfighters of the Championship Bull Riding World Finals risk life and limb to keep the bull riders from harm. Different from matador or torero bullfighters, these professionals protect the bull riders. Once a rider is thrown off, the bullfighters' job is to rush in to grab the attention of the bull, allowing the rider to escape. Injuries are a constant threat, but the safety of the bull riders is their top priority.